One overlooked aspect of heterosocial skills is the selection of appropriate goal objects or partners. The tenet of interpersonal attraction that "like attracts like" suggests that individuals could maximize gains by avoiding dissimilar others. Recent findings suggest that variables relating to lifestyle and sensation seeking are more influential than traditionally investigated variables. A study was conducted to rigorously assess the impact of informational cues on dating choices while avoiding problems associated with post hoc analyses, simulated stranger designs, and heightened saliency effects. Forty-five females and 45 males role played customers at a videodating service. Target tapes included manipulated responses which were read off of cue cards by target subjects. Response alternatives were completely crossed with target subjects. Order effects were controlled through a Latin squares design. The results showed that females preferred males who espoused conservative views on premarital sex, alcohol, and marijuana use by a three to one margin. While also most responsive to lifestyle manipulations, valences of male rating changes were more evenly distributed. Target by manipulation interactions are attributed to swift elimination of some candidates. Cues generated were sorted into a hierarchical coding system. Category frequencies were differentially associated with sex of rater. Males cited appearance and sex role incongruency more frequently while females were more likely to cite interests, values and sense of humor. Six tables and a list of references are included. (Author/ABL)